repost 1: it’s about time

I figured it out. Things are really all about time (including how long it takes to get your electricity turned on)! I used to believe it’s about work or vision, or even love, but now I know that those things are incidental to this…thing, this concept- please realize, time matters most.

Of course, I am just being a wee bit silly so what the ___ am I talking about really? Well, I am here to announce that I have electricity! After months of rewiring and 4 months of calling and waiting and moving the meter can and removing this and adding that and mostly just not knowing what they (DTE) wanted from me, two days ago something that took them probably 10 minutes tops to hook up finally happened.

Did I ever tell you about the time that I called the main operator system for DTE to try and trick them into coming out. Oh yes, I was desperate. I figured if you have a downed wire that they would come out right away. I never looked forward to calling and going through all the choices on their automated menu (though I was starting to get pretty good at it), but I felt like I had to and this time would be different. I was feeling like this was gonna do something, this attempt would matter. I admit was a little worried that maybe I could actually make the situation worse if I just straight out said there was a downed wire and sparks were flying or something, so I said “you know I am trying to get my power on and there are some downed wires in the alley (which is really just my driveway at this point) and am not sure how safe that is…” ok sir can you give me your address (or sometimes it’s social security number, phone number or name) so I can look up the record on your account?” I think, maybe… ‘nope, doesn’t look like she’s buying it’.

Turns out that she is actually really interested in figuring out why I do not have electricity yet and begins to ask me about the situation. I tell her that I finally got a meter installed and that I had to move the meter can and add a ground wire beforehand, but at this point “my electricians” (read-friends) say everything looks ok and we should be good to go AND I have this reference number for a DTE inspector to come out to see if there is a problem, but the problem there, is every time I call I eventually get an answering machine that is full, so it just hangs up on me. To this she assures, seriously, that she is going to help me, and she seems so genuine so I believe her. How I feel about this person matters to me, but that’s a whole other story about one of my phone calls to a different DTE operator. That was a bad one for sure.

She says, “if you hold I will call their office for you and then connect you. See, they are moving their offices and I hear things are a little busy over there right now.” Of course I say, “sounds good, please do”. “Please hold sir”. So, the downed wire thing didn’t work and I hold and I hold and I walk around my yard, rake a few leaves and then just before it gets bad here she is. “OK sir, I got someone on the line and they should be able to help you out.” “Wow, thank you I really appreciate it”. “No problem, just stay on the line and I’ll patch you through.” It rings and guess what happens! It’s that same fucking answering machine and the same thing that always happens happened. It would not even allow me to leave a message and hung up on me. And, in all my excitement I forgot to get her name which means I had no way of getting back in touch with this operator, ever. Doomed, I must be doomed.

It wasn’t long after that that I gave up and seriously started thinking about just saving up for an alternative power source and for now making sure I was stocked with batteries, candles, wood and psychologically ready to go ahead and face the winter without electric lights or a space heater. Around that time the weather was not so bad; I think we had just went through that really warm spell, so I had a short reprieve and it wasn’t too bad yet. I bought a cheap chainsaw, started scoping out places to get wood and rearranged my furniture again ( I do this about once a week, and again that’s another story), but low and behold last Tuesday or was it Wednesday, as I was pulling up, this guy with a clipboard starts to walk up to the upsidedown house, using the sidewalk! ‘This must be official’, I think, but rather than drive off worried that they were coming after me for something, I jumped out and said “hey, how’s it going?” HE says he’s from DTE and he is the inspector and just needs to look on the outside. PLEASE.

As I suspected there were no issues and he apologizes and shows me with his thumb and first finger the size of the stack of orders he has to check on and says he really wishes they would hire other people, which sounded like to me that he was the only one who had this job. I did not envy him nor did I give him a hard time. I simply told him that I was surprised to see him because I had given up. He said that he would put “live in” and actually showed me that he wrote this down in large letters on the order form and also said that should help a little bit and hopefully they would get to me soon. Hell yea hopefully, but yes soon enough, 3 days later, whala!

Thought that was the end of the story did you? Hell no. Did I ever tell you about the time that I got a bill from DTE, as a matter of fact two (turns out all I ever get in the mail at this point is bills for utitilities I do not have). Yea, that’s right they started billing me before I even had service. At first I thought, “what the…” then I realized, maybe they will come out to turn my electricity off and I can get them to actually turn it on? Ridiculous huh? Yea, but not as ridiculous for how long it took to get my electricity on so I can start paying them money?? OR, did I ever tell you how I had to decipher a note they left that read “meter can must be no more than 17 inches from meter can”, which was them trying to say that we needed to move the meter can down before they would insert the actual meter because they wanted it in a better position for shutting the power off if I ever don’t pay my bill, for a service I had yet to even begin to receive…

Now, so not to forget that they are evil and I should try and minimize my usage and keep on working toward having the choice to be off the grid I recall how long a time it took. For now, it was so good to hook up my stereo system today and listen to XTC’s Drums and Wires, especially the 2nd song.

Power to the People!

the equilibrium of the whole rests in all it’s parts

So where you been upsidedownhouse?

After the June work day… I’ve been too tired. The baby goats at the farm next door ate my notebook. I became an etymologist, specializing in blue-eyed sicatas. It’s my car, my girlfriend, my nephew, it’s been too hot, I was lost in a dream of music, I’ve only been writing poems, I was was picking berries out in the yard, I’ve been drunk, I had to cut the grass! Dick Cheney made me stop. I swear, I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to give up blogging!!

Anyway, trying to be funny because humor in hard times is healthy and that is where I’ve been, “curling up like smoke above my shoulder” -Cohen. Blogger, ” target=”_blank”>The Signal on CBC radio 2, for me replacing Liz Copeland’s WDET late night show. It’s really good radio, and has helped me feel inspired again, check it out. Also, Leave A Comment »

It’s On! WORK DAY June 3rd

Posted in Uncategorized on May 8, 2007 by upsidedownhouse

calling all cars, no. comrades….no. Comanchees? no.
friends! pleaz come over Sunday June 3rdto a workday & bbq @ the “upsidedown house”. I could use your help and will repay with food and booze the day of & the night before!! RSVP
Saturday night partay
Sunday get down and dirty 10-6

I’ve had a month to consider the changes at WDET and the state of the city, and currently I say, fuck it. IT’s stupid and not what I am fighting for, and I’m certainly not going to give up what “I am for” to fight against right now. Be it the the city nor the Wayne State board of governors. It truly is not the end of the world, at least not immediately.

I will not worry so much. There is good and there is not so good and sometimes one is acutely aware of how stupid people are and that is usually bad. I just have to feed my drive and keep going. If you leave our city, please be well. I think I can handle it again. If you stay, pace yourself, but commit, so not to be a distraction. There is a lot of fun but also work to be done! Having said that after years of invovlment I quit my collective projects for an indefinite period, am going to the woods for 2 weeks(Porcupine mountains)and upon return recommitting to the house and my love of life! I feel excited again, even though I still see the city as crazy ruins and the same old top down decision making strong as ever, as ever.

How can one live stuck in a rut though, that’s more like survival (if that)and I still want to live. Who knows what this new time will allow for, beyond making sure I am consistently working on the house. I know I have many street art ideas, miss playing music like mad and would like to help here and there with booking shows, so it will no doubt be a challenge to really focus on the house, but that is the plan. I hope to be a better writer, which means I have to write more and in the future I plan on reworking this blog and maybe moving the site plus dividing it into 3 categories: poetry, politics, the project (the house). Maybe by the time I have been writing here for a year I will assess and make the necessary changes and shift my priority to writing? Who knows? That is what I will leave you with…who knows?

Fear, Compromise, Capitalism, and WDET -Pt.2

Posted in Uncategorized on April 9, 2007 by upsidedownhouse

Fed to the wolves.

I know I am not the only one upset by what’s happening at WDET lately, and it might appear of little consequence compared to what’s happening in the city as a whole:more school closures, the constant stories of violence(and my own encounters), more suspicious fires and the continued destruction of green space. All that has got me down lately, but I consider this a serious blow. I’ve said it before, music is what keeps me going, it’s the thing nearest to my heart’s beat, so with local dj’s music programming so seriously attacked last week, I took it hard. Listening to CJAM now, that is when I can get it in, makes me want to move to Canada, seriously.

I am not even sure what it’s about since no notice or information was provided on the DET website last week, when it mattered, and I have yet to check out the MT to see if they have the scoop. It appears obvious enough though, the music(locals) goes and national programming stays. Whatever the station has done, it has certainly validated those who protested a year or so ago when our only Detroit NPR station fired so many dj’s and apparently left the other half til now. To me WDET’s turning it’s back on the community, again, and the attack on the music is akin to the developers who bulldoze the green spaces so the can build-they take from us irrespective of what we need, because they can and that is how they will survive. Acres of old dense trees stands, the ones bordering Rosa Parks from MLK to Grand River I am specifically thinking of, will never be ridden through again, just like I will not hear Liz Copeland, W. Kim Heron, Mick Collins, Ralph Valdez, Michael Julian, Chuck Horn, nor Robert Jones again. Though, to be accurate Reverend Jones has survived this round of cutbacks, but I’ll not be hearing him either; his new slot is Sundays 6 am to 8 am as of today. Happy Easter Reverend Jones…

Fucked over.

Up until February when I got electricity in my place, especially alone at night, it was the local DET dj’s on my shitty battery powered radio that kept me company. There was no listening to cd’s, old tapes, and vinyl and reading by candle light was too much, so it was just the radio and my thoughts on long dark and often bitter cold nights, and I was thankful. SO, just like when I rode through, even drove by those stands of trees feeling like there is hope and this is what makes Detroit a healthy place to live, sometimes I would listen to a show and know that the culture and history of our city’s music is still alive. Of course it was not perfect, but I listened and gave it props because the dj’s gave me hope.

Getting rid of most of the local dj’s reminds me of what’s been happening somewhere else too, in NOLA lately. In Detroit we said it, (acknowledging the differences too), but Detroit has had our Katrina happening for decades now. I can not see any other explanation other than they want us out. The people who are trying to rebuild and survive in the neighborhoods are a problem when it comes to making large profits. The things that are good for the long time residents and the ones who have a sense of what we need to feel whole must go. IF you believe me wrong, PLEASE respond, because I am happy to state my case.

Offered scraps and told it’s the only thing, while you see the lavish meal layed out before your very eyes.

The other reason this pisses me off so much is not that a station challenged financially has chosen to go the way of more national programming as it is supposedly less expensive, but the way they have upped their spots to give them money ahead of the upcoming fundraiser. They knew we would be pissed and are trying to manipulate us with spots that talk about how much we learn on WDET and should value this…service. Excuse me, I need to appreciate what? Never owning up to what they have done. It’s so obvious. It’s so devious and manipulative. It’s so…corporate.

I got an idea. How about rather than give everyone the boot there is some discussion in the community as to what some of the possible solutions to the problems are? It’s advertised as a community station right? Why not go the way of a volunteer army of local DJ’s (even if just from WSU) that are not paid, and slim down on the paid management while you’re at it. Too late. And, PLEASE, just to mention regarding some of the new programming, take that new money and finance show off before someone gets hurt, seriously. It’s local, but it will not touch the issue of class with a ten foot poll, so I’d call that one a program for the new Detroiters and an insult to boot.

“one fine day, when i’m strong enough, i’ll stand up out of this chair and walk away”nomeansno

While the weather last week indicated that it is indeed Spring, regardless of cold nights, how quickly the tables turn. I shaved my beard and head ready to meet the change head on (no pun intended)rather than wait for it to get to me first, ah burned again. I was so wrong, and now so confused. Am I less ready for changes this drastic than I previously had been? I feel like I used to be ready to adapt and flex like a long piece of bamboo. One piece in a clump of bamboo born to grow like grass and be more useful, inspiring and full of mystery than most humans will ever realize. Regardless of all that, as the song goes “if you ain’t ready, you betta git ready”, but i’m thinkin’, no,how about a change of scenery and weather altogether…

My last blog entry ended with a cry to stay in Detroit and build a good life here, but just like the weather’s harsh return, lately I have rather suddenly felt like the opposite and more like quitting Detroit. Quitting my collective projects, quitting this city, quitting the life I have been living for nearly 10 years here and beyond that. When I lived in Arcata it was really just to prepare myself for what I wanted to do here. I apologize for this fit, but I am dumbfounded at the amount of harsh reality that is hurled somewhere in my general direction lately, but seems to always end up right on my lap. Indeed it seems to be saying “it’s going to get worse before it gets better”. All I know is I need a break.

This city gets fucked over and over and in turn the people end up learning that’s the way it’s done and do it to others, how American. A bunch of sweet talk and than nothing but abuse. No, how just like the USA, not America. The Americas are not the home to Capitalism, but this country is, no matter how global it gets. The gears of the machine continue to turn, cycle after cycle. Detroit, the true “American” city, then and now. When will it end?

Fear, Compromise,Capitalism, WDET-Pt . I

Posted in Uncategorized on April 1, 2007 by upsidedownhouse

My ability to endure is being tested, and though it feels good to reflect here, it seems like a Sisyphian task to contain myself and present a coherent rant even. The sun is bright today, but to leave now is to favor illusion rather than confront the darkness I feel. In the end that only begets a greater unhappiness. There are many
issues that have me feeling so, but most of all in no uncertain terms, I am especially upset at Detroit.

I feel like I am only human and to reveal so much calamity is too much for me to bear.

Backing up a bit. See, I espouse an idea distilled from anarchism which somewhat insists on a “no compromise” notion of how I, and to some degree, others should live. A good example is “you don’t bomb the people”, period. Personally, I insist on living for a culture of togetherness that actually works for community, ie. the public… and I do not feel this is a radical or even utopian notion, but it is very different than the notion of what our NPR affiliate apparently feels about the P in it’s acronym. We’ll get to that little jab later on, for they are the true inspiration behind this rant.

Some days I wish to close my eyes and go away, while previously that has not been my disposition.

Even though, to advocate folks be open minded and willing to explore our creative ability to transform our own lives and the institutions (in the face of capitalism) is considered unrealistic, it is a rather sane viewpoint. To me, it appears in the world as a whole-fear is kicking the crap out of love and the dominant capitalist institutions of our times bears the brunt of the blame for this violence. How is it not seen that it is a failure and that the fear that it promotes is no way to go on in life. Perhaps I am wrong, but I think our survival actually depends on fighting this aspect of what is. Though I have issue with his ideas of power, for sure Che said it best when he said “revolution, i act out of love”, or something like that.

“Sometimes I dream about reality, sometimes I feel so down” Mr. Bobby by Manu Chao

So, what is all this mean Mr. Upsidedown? It means the changes that have been announced lately in this city have made me question my loyalty to it and all I am involved with. I feel like my ability to survive here is wearing thin and that’s not good, because you need a good thick skin to endure the truth of what it means to live here. Not the ‘I live in newly developed areas with security or in close proximity to areas where the police protect me’ truth, but the truth that it’s a desperate place to grow up in and perhaps even harder for some to try to stay here as an adult. Even having said that, how it is now I think is better than how it is going to be.

I have been considering leaving the city I love because of what is going on, and that would indeed be a huge compromise.

This place as of late makes me sick with fear, which is something I usually deal pretty well with. I fear the city will survive and transform itself, but it will be unrecognizable as a a place of potential and hope for something better, and recognizable as another terrible version of a place that converts the energy to believe in change, for the passive acceptance of what products are here for you; the lie that builds off the idea that if you want to go anywhere in life you better get in line. I thought we were better than that, but I am beginning to doubt that is what Detroit spirit is/was about. It feels like capitalism is being reembraced and the once suspicious face of privelege that is by and large white, is fading from our memory. “Embraced”, perhaps not, more like we’re on our knees and begging to appease the master.

Idealism has it’s ups, but when you get depressed at the state of things, look out.

In general, I am involved with people who are engaged and doing and that helps, usually. And right now, while I feel my hope and excitement is being ripped from me, I am on the cusp of realizing that Detroit potential with two projects I have been involved with for years. They are of great inspiration to many, one regarding the intersection of urban land use in education and the other using popular education in creating new media models, both for raising up the voices of our youth, our future. With Detroit Summer, collective members embarked just yesterday on a tour of 5 cities with 10 passionate youth, who seem to have the vision and courage to take on the problems we face. I feel like I am betraying them writing like this, but I am wondering what new problems will we all face and why would we put that on them?

“New York City, maybe you remind me of myself”- Gil Scott Heron

It’s madness, destroying green space here to build and building for the sake of building so that the economic imperative is satisfied. It’s certainly not helping to keep me here. It’s like human sacrifice and I can only bear witness so long before the upsurge in hope I felt just 2 weeks ago is stricken down by the forces that manage our affairs. So, if my hope turns to a callous pessimism and then disregard for my word, and words like “no compromise” for my vision, like working with youth turns to hoping that this place burns finally and for good, please escort me out of this city because I will be of no help any longer.

my first community meeting

Posted in Uncategorized on March 17, 2007 by upsidedownhouse

Here’s a good one from a few days, or  year ago?

If I ignore the horror of militarism or another death machine called globalization ever present, on a more personal level today was one of the good ones. There are good ones, bad ones and to be fair some that I just can’t make up my mind about.

After work I walked 1 block, just 1 block, to a community meeting. Which means that it is literally my community and that’s sort of a big deal for me. As a radical (I think the Latin root of means “root”)  I go to some meetings, as a matter of fact, I’d say often.  A meeting, rooted, right here next to the place I wonder if I will live the rest of my life in… in that context, puts a new significance on it.

As it turns out my first community meeting felt like the most real thing in the world and made me feel like ‘I belong here’, but it has been nearly a year since that one and only meeting, that I know of.
Like I said, I go to some meetings, as do many of my friends because those are the types of people I like to be around (actively engaging in solutions to our problems), and I’ve probably seen some of the best, worst, hardest, most boring, baffling, infuriating and informative meetings as it gets, so coming into this one it was not so much I was prepared for the worst, but was wondering how it was going to be. Will it be organized or kinda all over the place? How long would it last? Who would be dominating the conversation? These were all thoughts I had in my short walk over. Never the less, I went in feeling relaxed, but left wholly energized.

In the beginning the facilitator spoke a lot, but before I could grow concerned she acknowledged her time on the mic, while refusing to apologize? She was making a call out to rally our community and make things happen-refuse, resist and come together. With such sincerity and passion her enthusiasm broke through walls constructed of caution and skepticism, so that I immediately wanted to work with her, no, everyone. Not unlike a skilled politician she spoke, but really it was an activist that I heard. She used her power for much needed purposes, to bring us closer together, as one of the other participants said plainly to that same feeling, “that’s why we’re here right”. She seemed like a natural leader, hmmm.

Until recently “leader” was a word I associated with someone who  has some influence or control over me (aka boss, institution aka fuck that), so it was seldom that I used that word in a positive manner. To be a good speaker and to share convictions for sure is a healthy activity, it’s just when people expect a payment of power for their ideas and voice (like in politics, religion, family or business) that is when the title “leader” comes out of my mouth with contempt.  Indeed they are leading people, right into a mess.

In a lost society such as ours though, if you, who are able to light up a room with an enthusiasm that touches the place where hope is supposed to be is appreciated, but I will never let down my guard,  because people change.  I am for “us” and would like to find my way out of this mess together. That place, not a mess, is called a healthy community, not the “afterworld”, as Prince sings it.

The organizers of this meeting were the pastor and the CDC that works out of the church.  The church was calling to us to come together, and they were on it. There was a brief agenda passed out to all, plus snacks and some time for the 12 attendees to bring up what we wanted to, along with our comments and questions in response to the updates on the work that the CDC has been engaged in.

Even the prayer at the end was short and interesting, and I’m not one for religion period. Rather than give an “amen” I said “thanks”. The whole thing lasted just over an hour, they were shooting for just 45 minutes. Impressive.

It was announced that after an amazing effort they had tracked down the current owner of a Brownfield almost directly across from the church, with two severely damaged and dangerous buildings on it. I’ve often dreamed of what good could be made out of them. We were told the current title holders were found in Chicago and had agreed to sign over the property so that the CDC could build a community center! Not just agreed, like sure, but that it was really in the works. Aware of what it meant to take this on, all the site cleanup and studies excitedly she asked that we all be as involved as we would like. A community center kitty corner from the art park next to my house, I repeat, not some ugly new apartment building, or worse condo, but something I personally considered prior to this… how sweet is that.

Out of that conversation we talked in general about the quality of our soil and the possibility of a nearby former Superfund site as an area we’re not really certain to be safe and something to research. One of the folks said she had collected a massive amount of primary source material and other info. from back when all this was going down and was asked to lend it to a class, but was told later that is was not to be found. Sorry, it’s just disappeared. Hmm. This was all by way of an organization I’ll not name right now. Anyway, I personally will be looking into soil testing done by a friend and some students at CFA 4 or 5 years ago and perhaps do more of the same, maybe with help from the Garden Resource Program. If we are going for a healthy and safe community I think it is wise for us to start with what is actually in our soil.

Another interesting conversation that was had concerned the scrappers who frequent our neighborhood and who apparently have created a smelter here. Oh great. This means the stolen aluminum, copper pipes or wire and whatever else can be had locally, has been going there where they get paid cash in hand! rather than making their way to a scrap yard across town. The person paying then can more easily transport it in a melted down form and I’m sure make more money too. I have seen fires on several occasions where they were just burning the coating off the wire, but to actually smelt it down sounds to me like someone is getting organized.

The church had been hit pretty hard this winter and cost them at least a thousand dollars not to mention it cost me a few hours of frustrating labor as I repaired a part of the school’s fence the scrappers had cut through for some reason. Rather than view these folks stealing from us and in reality plaguing the city as a whole, through a single dimensional viewpoint ala “arrest em”, we talked about the possibility of employing them in some of our clean up efforts and that if we want to truly deal with any issues of crime in our community that most importantly we need to be out, active and together so that it is harder for scrappers and others to come in unnoticed and feel like no one cares enough here to do anything.

We also talked about the potential for the police to both be helpful or oppressive. One woman told of a terrifying account which happened about a month ago where a black van with masked men jumped out of it while she was walking home. They questioned and searched her while their badges were turned around, a drug enforcement unit. She said “yea I am skinny and might look like I do drugs, which I do not, but it’s not right for them to treat anyone this way”. YEA! Immediately another woman handed her right then and there a district complaint form and our facilitator urged her to make a report because this is not something that we should stand for and we need to send that message. Also, it was mentioned on what days we could go to the local precinct meeting if we want to and that it is possible to get a top cop to attend one of our meetings too. Hell yea. A few minutes prior, we talked about how quickly they responded to an abandoned vehicle that turned up over night. It was gone in hours of making the call.

There were 12 of us and one child and nearly everyone spoke. Some of us talked afterwards outside about organic gardening, medical marijuana, chemtrails, the school farm and the suspicious nature of the fires last summer, mentioned in an early blog. I think these folks might just be down with my crazy City Repair visions for the hood along with orchards, fish ponds, jobs, community policing, festivals and being there for youth. It’s sorta all too unbelievable. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

Many people had lived their entire lives here, raised children and want to stay here for the kids now and make this a place they experience in a positive way. “Don’t leave it, build it” is what some of us dare say about this city we love and struggle for.

Riddles, for real

Posted in Uncategorized on February 18, 2007 by upsidedownhouse

This is my favorite riddle. Do you get it?

If in panic I forget it, in despair I need it, in my mind I save it, in death I have it?

Even better, where did I hear this riddle?

I was just listening to This American Life and it had a puzzle theme, so here’s my puzzle. Also, here’s something from the show I heard, it’s an anagram for ” a dream within a dream”-What am I, a mind reader? I kinda liked that too.

And something else for those folks into radio stories. A while back I actually taped a special show from this festival out of Chicago, the stories were awesome, so here’s a link to the homepage.

Passionate and Dangerous

Posted in Uncategorized on February 12, 2007 by upsidedownhouse

I hesitate and a thought flickers forward. What if I start crying here in the library? I let it pass. That is not an issue now, I will certainly tear up and besides, grief is good. Then I consider for a moment if, or why, I need to share such personal experiences? Yes, I am sure. It’s why I got tattooed “passionate and dangerous”, which will forever lie acrosss the top of my back. So, I take in and release a deep breath, even if it hurts. I am as committed to what has been as much as what could be.

Today we honor and celebrate the lives of our amazing friends, Emma and Oona who died together on this day February 12th, 5 years ago already. They were coming home from a wonderful adventure and died suddenly in a car accident. They were both 21 and part of the Trumbullplex Collective where we lived. I never want to forget and always remain inspired by them. In a way I feel like this is what you do when you are touched by humans with such spirit, it’s barely a choice, we have to keep their spirits alive because it rests inside us all now. They were so amazing, I could swear it’s impossible that not one of us saw them while their wings were visible.

I know that sounds so cheesy, regardless they do make me think of angels. Not flawless perfect beings that wear white dresses in heaven, but humans who on earth tore it up! They had spirits that soared higher than Icarus had. While here they touched so many more people than any of us even know. They were angels that were anarchists and bouncers, artists and gardeners. They skipped classes but knew volumes: from linguistics to welding to breathing fire to geology to what friendship and community should mean too. The list goes on and on. Angels that liked to be loud and party, dream and experiment, think, work, feel, and live to the fullest, the best kind.

I really miss them. I miss them all the time and in my own way. They were family to me, as is the rest of the Plex from that time. Some of this extended family will get together tonight as has been the tradition, to remember them as a community, as well as how we individually each do. For me they have settled into a precious and deep place within. It may sound selfish, but they are always there for me, so I hope I can repay them for this. I hope we can let them out of the recesses of our hearts when we are together more often and share with each other what they and the experience of their death means to us now.

This year I tried to imagine how they would have physically changed and where they would be. The way they looked may have changed is not as hard as what they would be up to. At this point they could have done and been anything. They were both uniquely beautiful and gifted, I had such crushes on them. On that note since I had no intentions previously to write about them today I’ll try to just share a little more about how I felt about them and maybe some day you can ask me more about what they did and who they were.

One time I was trying to find a quiet place and ended up on the second floor living room near Oona’s room (which I have to mention was painted a bright blue with stars too), I don’t think I was even reading, just sitting and resting. Suddenly Oona’s door opened and she came out of her room totally naked. She turned to face me and said “oh, hey what’s up” and I said “just sitting here” and then she smiled and walked into the bathroom. I didn’t know she was in there with her lover. She was so cool about it, while my jaw was still sitting on the floor.

We all had a lot of fun. One time in the theatre after a FIASCO, drinking beer and whiskey and Emma being plenty drunk started to hit on me. We didn’t know each other very well yet, but it was clear that she was hardcore and probably more than I could handle. Emma was pierced, had most of one arm tattooed in the most beautiful and twisted tree I can ever recall seeing, then and since. She was a traveller punk and truly defined artist-activist. She could play a saw, wore masses of shiny silver jewelery (this is where my thumb ring comes from), and like Oona had a perfect smile.

For as fierce as they were they were the sweetest pirates I have ever met and I will love them always. Appreciate and love one another because you never know

It’s About Time

Posted in Uncategorized on February 4, 2007 by upsidedownhouse

I figured it out. Things are really all about time (including how long it takes to get your electricity turned on)! I used to believe it’s about work or vision, or even love, but now I know that those things are incidental to this…thing, this concept- please realize, time matters most.

Of course, I am just being a wee bit silly so what the ___ am I talking about really? Well, I am here to announce that I have electricity! After months of rewiring and 4 months of calling and waiting and moving the meter can and removing this and adding that and mostly just not knowing what they (DTE) wanted from me, two days ago something that took them probably 10 minutes tops to hook up finally happened.

Did I ever tell you about the time that I called the main operator system for DTE to try and trick them into coming out. Oh yes, I was desperate. I figured if you have a downed wire that they would come out right away. I never looked forward to calling and going through all the choices on their automated menu (though I was starting to get pretty good at it), but I felt like I had to and this time would be different. I was feeling like this was gonna do something, this attempt would matter. I admit was a little worried that maybe I could actually make the situation worse if I just straight out said there was a downed wire and sparks were flying or something, so I said “you know I am trying to get my power on and there are some downed wires in the alley (which is really just my driveway at this point) and am not sure how safe that is…” ok sir can you give me your address (or sometimes it’s social security number, phone number or name) so I can look up the record on your account?” I think, maybe… ‘nope, doesn’t look like she’s buying it’.

Turns out that she is actually really interested in figuring out why I do not have electricity yet and begins to ask me about the situation. I tell her that I finally got a meter installed and that I had to move the meter can and add a ground wire beforehand, but at this point “my electricians” (read-friends) say everything looks ok and we should be good to go AND I have this reference number for a DTE inspector to come out to see if there is a problem, but the problem there, is every time I call I eventually get an answering machine that is full, so it just hangs up on me. To this she assures, seriously, that she is going to help me, and she seems so genuine so I believe her. How I feel about this person matters to me, but that’s a whole other story about one of my phone calls to a different DTE operator. That was a bad one for sure.

She says, “if you hold I will call their office for you and then connect you. See, they are moving their offices and I hear things are a little busy over there right now.” Of course I say, “sounds good, please do”. “Please hold sir”. So, the downed wire thing didn’t work and I hold and I hold and I walk around my yard, rake a few leaves and then just before it gets bad here she is. “OK sir, I got someone on the line and they should be able to help you out.” “Wow, thank you I really appreciate it”. “No problem, just stay on the line and I’ll patch you through.” It rings and guess what happens! It’s that same fucking answering machine and the same thing that always happens happened.  It would not even allow me to leave a message and hung up on me. And, in all my excitement I forgot to get her name which means I had no way of getting back in touch with this operator, ever. Doomed, I must be doomed.

It wasn’t long after that that I gave up and seriously started thinking about just saving up for an alternative power source and for now making sure I was stocked with batteries, candles, wood and psychologically ready to go ahead and face the winter without electric lights or a space heater. Around that time the weather was not so bad; I think we had just went through that really warm spell, so I had a short reprieve and it wasn’t too bad yet. I bought a cheap chainsaw, started scoping out places to get wood and rearranged my furniture again ( I do this about once a week, and again that’s another story), but low and behold last Tuesday or was it Wednesday, as I was pulling up, this guy with a clipboard starts to walk up to the upsidedown house, using the sidewalk! ‘This must be  official’, I think, but rather than drive off worried that they were coming after me for something, I jumped out and said “hey, how’s it going?” HE says he’s from DTE and he is the  inspector and just needs to look on the outside. PLEASE.

As I suspected there were no issues and he apologizes and shows me with his thumb and first finger the size of the stack of orders he has to check on and says he really wishes they would hire other people, which sounded like to me that he was the only one who had this job. I did not envy him nor did I give him a hard time. I simply told him that I was surprised to see him because I had given up. He said that he would put “live in” and actually showed me that he wrote this down in large letters on the order form and also said that should help a little bit and hopefully they would get to me soon.  Hell yea hopefully, but yes soon enough, 3 days later, whala!

Thought that was the end of the story did you? Hell no. Did I ever tell you about the time that I got a bill from DTE, as a matter of fact two (turns out all I ever get in the mail at this point is bills for utitilities I do not have). Yea, that’s right they started billing me before I even had service. At first I thought, “what the…” then I realized, maybe they will come out to turn my electricity off and I can get them to actually turn it on? Ridiculous huh? Yea, but not as ridiculous for how long it took to get my electricity on so I can start paying them money?? OR, did I ever tell you how I had to decipher a note they left that read “meter can must be no more than 17 inches from meter can”, which was them trying to say that we needed to move the meter can down before they would insert the actual meter because they wanted it in a better position for shutting the power off if I ever don’t pay my bill, for a service I had yet to even begin to receive…

Now, so not to forget that they are evil and I should try and minimize my usage and keep on working toward having the choice to be off the grid I recall how long a time it took.   For now, it was so good to hook up my stereo system today and listen to XTC’s Drums and Wires, especially the 2nd song.

Power to the People!

emerging detroit calendar

Posted in Uncategorized on January 29, 2007 by upsidedownhouse

Some of you may have noticed that there is a link to a calendar on my blog and if you went to it I imagine you will have likely been disappointed, because it sucks. Not because it is sorta plain, but because it has very few items of interest on the individual days since no one uses it. I’ve decided though that I will keep the calendar going and post listings on it myself, along with redoubling my efforts to promote it through myspace, blogs and the box of stickers I printed up (they kinda look like a dollar). Please feel free to spread the word and create a login account and password yourself, it’s about as easy as I could possible make it, so do that and it will allow you to promote whatever local events you like there. It could be a useful tool for metro detroiters, new folks or visitors interested in finding out about local meetings, demos/protests, fundraisers, shows and other events.

Initially, as I finally got this idea off the ground, myspace was starting to get popular and it seemed like every group had their own calendar too, so they were not very interested in taking the time to use this broad based calendar, though they were fine with me promoting there group or event for them. I seem to recall “Fuck That” were my sentiments towards that idea. My feeling then was I was not using this to promote anything other than Detroit arts/activism and had been promoting peoples events for them (often without them even knowing) for half of my life and thought this would be an easier way to help others help themselves and promote our communities various and many activities as a whole. I did not feel the need to keep on working for others just for kicks. Now, I think I will post for others too. If I can successfully do that they will come, maybe. Do you think we need to have something that helps us see what events are out there, particularly ones that are in line with the vision I put out there for an emerging detroit in the “about page”, or truthfully does myspace or other calendars like Critical Moments’ do the job already?

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